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Brand-new ACC rivalry Syracuse-Duke delivers a classic

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — There's hype. Then there's exceeding hype. For weeks — months, really — the first meeting of Duke and Syracuse as conference members had been billed as a must-see event, a clash featuring the

For weeks — months, really — the first meeting of Duke and Syracuse as conference members had been billed as a must-see event, a clash featuring the two winningest coaches in Division I college men's basketball Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Syracuse's Jim Boeheim. Throw in two elite freshmen, Syracuse's Tyler Ennis and Duke's Jabari Parker, and Saturday's matchup had the ingredients to become one of the most thrilling games of the year.

Somehow, some way, that recipe came into fruition. It required a frenetic final few minutes of regulation and, fittingly, overtime. But by the end of No. 2 Syracuse's 91-89 win against No. 16 Duke in front of a record crowd (35,446) at the Carrier Dome, those involved were willing to call it one of the best games they've experienced, if not the best. With the win, the Orange extended their perfect record to 21-0, a program record.

Perhaps even better than "the best" is that this is just the first chapter of a burgeoning rivalry. Though there were remnants of past rivalries crippled by conference realignment — one Syracuse fan held a sign Saturday that read "Georgetown still sucks" — there's also optimism about new rivalries being formed.

Surprisingly, Krzyzewski and Boeheim had squared off against each other only twice before Saturday. Close friends and two of the game's coaching behemoths, both spoke about their counterpart with affection before and after the game, while understanding the magnitude of Saturday's event. They knew how important it is not only this season, but for the future of the ACC.

"Rivalry doesn't have to be hatred," Krzyzewski said. "A great rivalry is built on respect. A great rivalry is built on the respect of excellence of your opponent. That's why we've had a great rivalry with North Carolina — they have such a high level of excellence in their program. Obviously, Syracuse does and we do. … I'm sure when Jim and I are no longer coaching, the fact that we built good programs will produce some fantastic games. It will conjure up memories of past performances of individuals and teams from those contests."

Surely, some of those memories and highlights will come from Saturday's game, in which Syracuse and Duke teetered back and forth all evening, neither team extending its lead to more than seven points at any point. The score was tied 11 times; the lead changed eight times.

There were flashes of individual stardom — an impressive run by Syracuse senior C.J. Fair in the second half, Tyler Thornton's unexpected theatrics from beyond the line late in the game for Duke and dunk after dunk from Syracuse sophomore Jerami Grant in overtime. Parker, the Blue Devils' heralded freshman forward, struggled early against the length of the vaunted Syracuse 2-3 zone but played tough in the paint and well from the high post before exiting the game on a controversial offensive foul call with 1:42 left in regulation. ("There was nothing I could do about it," Parker said. "I wanted to be there with those guys. They kept fighting. I owe them.")

Duke forward Amile Jefferson fouled out soon after Parker did, putting the Blue Devils in a tough spot without any effective interior presence. For the most part, however, Duke's long-range shooting offset that, with no better example than Rasheed Sulaimon's three-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime.

Even in overtime, as Syracuse continued to pound the ball inside to Grant, who capped off possessions with dunks, Duke's perimeter shooters stepped up. Krzyzewski said later the plan was to trade twos for threes — and it almost worked.

With 13 seconds left in overtime and Syracuse clinging to a one-point lead, Duke's Rodney Hood went up for a one-handed dunk, only to have it rejected by Rakeem Christmas. No foul was called; Krzyzewski declined to comment on whether he believed there was contact.

Two free throws from Ennis and one from Fair sealed the win for Syracuse — and put the final exclamation point on the first chapter of what will surely be an invigorating annual series.

Jan. 29: Ohio State Buckeyes guard Aaron Craft lays in a shot against Penn State Nittany Lions forward Brandon Taylor during the first half of the game at Schottenstein Center. Rob Leifheit, USA TODAY Sports